The leader of North East Lincolnshire Council has expressed disappointment over a judicial review halting plans for a £120 million onshore salmon farm in Grimsby.
The farm, proposed by Aquacultured Seafood Ltd, had been approved in November 2023, but animal rights group Animal Equality UK challenged the decision, resulting in a judicial review being granted in September.
Councillor Philip Jackson criticised the legal proceedings, calling the judicial review “bad news” for the region, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He highlighted the anticipated benefits of the farm, including the creation of 80 jobs, local economic development, and research opportunities.
“The wider benefits to the local economy and skills development are significant,” Jackson told a council meeting. “It’s disappointing that Animal Equality have issued proceedings, effectively putting a stop on development for now.”
The farm is expected to produce 5,000 tonnes of fish annually once operational. However, critics have raised concerns over its environmental impact, proximity to residential areas and the beach, and the absence of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the planning process. The farm was approved by seven votes to four in the council’s planning committee, with some councillors expressing hesitancy due to the lack of an EIA.
Animal Equality UK’s executive director, Abigail Penny, criticised the project, citing the risks associated with onshore fish farms, including slim profit margins, equipment failures, and mass mortality events. She warned that the farm could set a “dangerous precedent” for similar operations in the UK.
The judicial review postpones construction and could potentially overturn the planning approval.
